Fatal New Mexico Thoreau Greyhound Bus Crash Leaves 8 Dead, Over 30 Injured
Our New Mexico trucking accident lawyer has learned of a horrific semi tractor trailer accident involving a Greyhound bus. According to news reports, the crash occurred in McKinley County, near the town of Thoreau on Interstate 40. The initial statement by New Mexico State Police is that the semi tractor trailer was traveling east on I-40 when the “tractor trailer suffered a driver side front tire failure when the tire tread separated from the case.” This caused the big rig to cross the median and into opposing westbound traffic. A large Greyhound bus was traveling westbound and struck head-on by the rogue tractor trailer.
Also according to New Mexico State Police, the semi tractor trailer was a 2017 Freightliner owned by JAG Transportation out of Fresno, California. The big rig originated in Marina, California and was treating to Memphis, Tennessee. The bus was a 2015 Greyhound which originated from St. Louis, Missouri and was heading to Las Angeles, California. There were 47 passengers on the bus and 1 driver.
The crash resulted in 8 fatalities, including the bus driver from Santa Teresa, New Mexico. There were 26 passengers who sustained injuries resulting in medical treatment. The truck driver is a 35-year-old man licensed out of California who sustained serious by not life-threatening injuries. No charges have been filed against him at this time.
Other news sources are reporting similar findings, including that the tire blowout is being eyed as the cause of the Thoreau Greyhound bus crash. One survivor stated that the bus looked “like a ripped open sardine can.”
Thoreau Greyhound Bus Crash Lawyers at the NM Truck Accident Attorneys
With the initial reports of a tire blowout being the cause of this Thoreau Greyhound bus crash, the experienced Thoreau Greyhound bus crash lawyers at the NM Truck Accident Attorneys know that their may be liability on both the truck driver and trucking company. We are licensed in both New Mexico and California, speak Spanish, and have handled many serious and fatal trucking accidents including verdicts or settlements of $12 million, $4.7 million, and $4.5 million.
We know those from our extensive work with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) cases which include regulations on tire treads and commercial truck equipment. For instance, 49 CFR section 392.7 (a)requires inspections by truck drivers of all wheels, rims, lugs, and tires before operating the semi tractor trailer. This is because 49 CFR section 393.75 (a) requires that tires be checked for serious defects, which include “tread or sidewall separation” and any “cut to the extent that the ply or belt material is exposed.”
Additionally, we use a Department of Transportation certified expert accident reconstructionist that can immediately get out to the scene of the site and being inspecting damage, taking photographs, interviewing witnesses, and assessing the cases of the semi tractor trailer accident. In an accident such as this crash, it is imperative that an expert such as ours gets to the scene to be accessing the tire blowout damage to see whether there were warning signs that the tread would fail.
Were You Involved in the Thoreau Greyhound Bus Crash With a Tractor Trailer? Call Us NOW
Our New Mexico trucking accident lawyer knows that time is of the essence in preserving and protecting your rights as a victim in a catastrophic accident. We know this, because we focus on practice on representing victims of serious, fatal, and catastrophic New Mexico trucking accidents. For instance, we had a $5.5 million jury verdict against FedEx, and settled another I-40 crash for $12 million.
Call us today and our Albuquerque trucking accident lawyer will come to California or elsewhere to discuss your case FOR FREE. We speak Spanish and are able to send out investigators promptly before the insurance carrier can hide evidence and begin their defense before you even have an opportunity to start. Call the NM Truck Accident Attorneys by dialing (505) 308-1556 to learn how we can help. You can also contact us on our website through the easy to use and convenient Contact box located by clicking here.
